...John Aravosis, who writes at Americablog, had this headline yesterday: "Why is McCain getting $58,000 a year in disability income?"

In his post, Aravosis wonders why the GOP nominee is receiving a military pension for the injuries he sustained in Vietnam.

Noting that a McCain aide explained it was because the former POW was "tortured for his country," Aravosis writes: "Yeah, we get it. The torture card. It's to McCain what 9/11 was to Giuliani's candidacy: the never-ending name-drop."

But McCain was tortured for his country — and the disability payment he receives is common to all veterans who sustained combat-related injuries.

But Aravosis doesn't stop in what is already very dangerous territory.

Suggesting a double-standard, he writes: "Imagine had the Democratic candidate served in Vietnam, been captured, and then made propaganda videos for the enemy while claiming all the while to be a hero." ...

Goldwater

06-09-2008, 09:10 PM

That blogger is a douche. McCain hardly ever brings it up, comparing him to Ghooliani who talks about 9/11 in his sleep is such a dirty attack.

Zeus

06-09-2008, 09:19 PM

That blogger is a douche. McCain hardly ever brings it up, comparing him to Ghooliani who talks about 9/11 in his sleep is such a dirty attack.

Pretty much a slap in the face to all the retired military personnel collecting disability benefits .

I do admit I think many on the bottom of the disability chain should be cut loose so the folks actually disabled could receive better treatment currently unavailable do to a lack of funds. I respect any and all they can hang with the military for 20 yrs or more but I don't think being fat is or should be a military connected disability.

Elspeth

06-09-2008, 10:27 PM

Pretty much a slap in the face to all the retired military personnel collecting disability benefits .

My thoughts exactly.

Odysseus

06-10-2008, 12:02 AM

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0608
Suggesting a double-standard, he writes: "Imagine had the Democratic candidate served in Vietnam, been captured, and then made propaganda videos for the enemy while claiming all the while to be a hero." ... /Does_the_left_really_want_to_go_here.html

The following is from Wikipedia's John McCain page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_mccain#Military_service_and_marriages):

John McCain's capture and imprisonment began on October 26, 1967. He was flying his twenty-third bombing mission over North Vietnam, when his A-4E Skyhawk was shot down by a missile over Hanoi.[33][34] McCain fractured both arms and a leg, and then nearly drowned, when he parachuted into Trúc Bạch Lake in Hanoi.[33] After he regained consciousness, a crowd attacked him, crushed his shoulder with a rifle butt, and bayoneted him;[33] he was then transported to Hanoi's main Hoa Lo Prison, nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton".[34]

McCain being pulled from Truc Bach Lake in Hanoi and becoming a POW[35] on October 26, 1967.Although McCain was badly wounded, his captors refused to treat his injuries, instead beating and interrogating him to get information.[36] Only when the North Vietnamese discovered that his father was a top admiral did they give him medical care[36] and announce his capture. His status as a prisoner of war (POW) made the front pages of The New York Times[37] and The Washington Post.[38]

McCain spent six weeks in the hospital while receiving marginal care.[33] Now having lost 50 pounds (23 kg), in a chest cast, and with his hair turned white,[33] McCain was sent to a different camp on the outskirts of Hanoi[39] in December 1967, into a cell with two other Americans who did not expect him to live a week.[40] In March 1968, McCain was put into solitary confinement, where he would remain for two years.[41]

In mid-1968, McCain's father was named commander of all U.S. forces in the Vietnam theater, and McCain was offered early release.[42] The North Vietnamese wanted to appear merciful for propaganda purposes,[43] and also wanted to show other POWs that elites like McCain were willing to be treated preferentially.[42] McCain turned down the offer of repatriation; he would only accept the offer if every man taken in before him was released as well.[33]

In August of 1968, a program of severe torture began on McCain.[44] McCain was subjected to repeated beatings and rope bindings, at the same time as he was suffering from dysentery.[44] After four days, McCain made an anti-American propaganda "confession".[33] He has always felt that his statement was dishonorable,[45] but as he would later write, "I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine."[46] His injuries left him permanently incapable of raising his arms above his head.[47] He subsequently received two to three beatings per week because of his continued refusal to sign additional statements.[48] Other American POWs were similarly tortured and maltreated in order to extract "confessions" and propaganda statements, with many enduring even worse treatment than McCain.[49]

Interview with McCain on April 24, 1973, after his return home.McCain refused to meet with various anti-war groups seeking peace in Hanoi, wanting to give neither them nor the North Vietnamese a propaganda victory.[50] From late 1969 on, treatment of McCain and many of the other POWs became more tolerable,[51] while McCain continued to be an active resister against the camp authorities.[52] McCain and other prisoners cheered the B-52-led U.S. "Christmas Bombing" campaign of December 1972 as a forceful measure to push North Vietnam to terms.[46][53]

Altogether, McCain was held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam for five and a half years. He was finally released from captivity on March 14, 1973.[54] McCain's return to the United States reunited him with his wife and family. His wife Carol had suffered her own crippling ordeal during his captivity, due to an automobile accident in December 1969.[55] As a returned POW, McCain became a celebrity of sorts.[55]

McCain underwent treatment for his injuries, including months of grueling physical therapy,[56] and attended the National War College in Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. during 1973–1974.[55][16] Having been rehabilitated, by late 1974, McCain had his flight status reinstated,[55] and in 1976 he became commanding officer of a training squadron stationed in Florida.[55][57] He turned around an undistinguished unit and won the squadron its first Meritorious Unit Commendation.[

McCain was under intense duress when he signed a statement (not making videos, just signed a statement) that repeated the enemy's propaganda. What was John Kerry's excuse? For that matter, how much effort did it take to get Barack Obama to turn his back on his pastor, his church and his friends? Bad poll numbers?

The Democrats have tipped their hand. The only way that they can win is by pretending that Obama's record as a community activist is of greater value than John McCain's record as an officer, a POW and a veteran. They will do everything in their power to denigrate Sen. McCain's military record, which is beyond compare, in order to elect a man who has never done anything for his country.

Eyelids

06-10-2008, 12:40 AM

This guy is a pretty shitty democrat to be saying somebody doesnt deserve disability payments.

Rebel Yell

06-10-2008, 11:28 AM

This guy is a pretty shitty democrat to be saying somebody doesnt deserve disability payments.

I believe this is the first time I've agreed with you. A true Democrat will give anyone with headache disabilty payments.

Elspeth

06-10-2008, 11:33 AM

I believe this is the first time I've agreed with you. A true Democrat will give anyone with headache disabilty payments.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D:D

Zathras

06-10-2008, 08:42 PM

This guy is a pretty shitty democrat to be saying somebody doesnt deserve disability payments.

And you would know shitty since that's what you are.

Phillygirl

06-10-2008, 08:46 PM

I agree. It's completely pointless going there and counter productive. I care very little for McCain's policies, but I have nothing but praise for his service in the army.

Posted By: Average Obama Supporter | June 09, 2008 at 12:13 PM

Okay...I found this comment hilarious!!

Zeus

06-10-2008, 10:54 PM

I've been thinking about the claim t Mccain ismentally whacked.Maybe it wouldn;t be such a bad Idea to have someone mentally whacked as president at this point in time. Imagine the negotiations with Abawannadinnerjack of Iran . Mccain says hey Dinnerjacket you are whacked and might have nukes ,I an whacked and you know I got nukes, wanna play .:cool:

Goldwater

06-10-2008, 10:59 PM

I've been thinking about the claim t Mccain ismentally whacked.Maybe it wouldn;t be such a bad Idea to have someone mentally whacked as president at this point in time. Imagine the negotiations with Abawannadinnerjack of Iran . Mccain says hey Dinnerjacket you are whacked and might have nukes ,I an whacked and you know I got nukes, wanna play .:cool:

I think we are long overdue for a President/Vice President good cop bad cop tag team, the President can be a complete psycho and the vp is always attempting to restrain him, should probably bomb some country to get that craziness out there.

du freeper

06-11-2008, 08:36 AM

At the risk of taking on friendly fire I have to agree with the OP's statement:

Noting that a McCain aide explained it was because the former POW was "tortured for his country," Aravosis writes: "Yeah, we get it. The torture card. It's to McCain what 9/11 was to Giuliani's candidacy: the never-ending name-drop."

McCain should let his "heroism" speak for itself and stop mentioning it every time he needs "credibility" on a subjec. Bob Dole was a hero but didn't need to remind everyone every time he was in front of a microphone.